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Muhammed Haneef

Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Terrorism is a very serious threat and governments around the world are putting a lot of effort into catching and punishing anyone involved. Less than a month ago the United Kingdom was attacked and a man living in Queensland was arrested. But how is he connected and why are some people saying he's being unfairly treated?

Presented by Nathan Bazley (episode 18)

Terrorism can lead to some shocking scenes. This attack happened in Scotland only a few weeks ago. Luckily, no one was killed.

Police quickly grabbed the guys they think are responsible, but further investigations led them half a world away, to Brisbane, Australia and this man.

Mohammed Haneef was a doctor working in a hospital on the Gold Coast. The health department hired him from overseas because there's a shortage of doctors.

He's also the second cousin of one of the men arrested over the attack on Glasgow airport.

But it's not illegal to be related to a suspected terrorist. So why was Mohammed Haneef arrested?

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: Well it's all because of this little thing: a mobile SIM card. Federal police claim that around 11 months ago, Haneef gave his SIM card to his cousin.

Police reckon that was helping a terrorist and under Australian law that's illegal so Haneef was charged.

It's not that clear cut though.

Haneef claims he just gave the sim card to his cousin because it had some credit left on it and he had no idea that it could be used by someone connected with a terrorist attack.

Police disagree and say they've got more evidence, so the case is going ahead. They took it to a magistrate who is like a judge.

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: The magistrate ordered that until Haneef's case is decided in court he should be allowed to leave jail but he then ran into another sticky problem.

Within hours of being told he would be set free, the Immigration Minister decided to cancel Haneef's visa.

A visa allows a person from overseas to stay in Australia.

Without a visa, Haneef has to be locked up in this immigration detention centre and he could be forced to leave the country.

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: So in the space of a few hours, Haneef went from being locked up in jail to being told he was free to being told he'd be locked up in a detention centre!

To get a visa, you have to pass what's called a character test. If the immigration department thinks a tourist or immigrant is dodgy they can ban them.

In this case the Immigration Minister decided that's what should happen to Mohammed Haneef.

Now, both the government and opposition support the decision, but other people are angry.

They say it's really unfair that Haneef is being judged before he's had a chance to defend himself in court.

His lawyers say they'll keep fighting for his freedom, but at this stage, Mohammed Haneef may have to leave Australia, no matter what happens in court.